We live in an information dictatorship.

[originalpckelly]

In what other way may a system that chooses to classify and declassify things in such an undemocratic manner be described?

In a democracy, information might as well just be power.

So, what kind of democracy are we, if we live in an information dictatorship?

[Throd]

1. ?

[originalpckelly]

3. Ask yourself a question, and you will find the answer:

How does the USA control information on matters of utmost importance?
1. Is this done by the people at large, in a democratic way?
2. Or is it done by the government in a centralized and secretive way, with the greatest autocracy possible?

Even the casual observation of our system reveals that No. 2 most accurately describes it.

This is an information dictatorship, and this is what we have.

[aikoaiko]

2. What is the democratic method of classification?

:shrug:

[originalpckelly]

4. Is there any?

Perhaps that is the point of my post?

:shrug:

What do you think?

[aikoaiko]

8. I don't think there is any. All you can do is vote the most honorable people in and hope.

[originalpckelly]

9. I have news for you...

unfortunately most politicians are the least honorable people in our society.

Based upon that, we're fucked.

[noise]

5. There isn't a chance that classification power

would ever be used for improper reasons.

:sarcasm:

[originalpckelly]

6. And there we have it.

We have a government that can lie to us, has admitted to lying to us, and we are expected to simply take anything it tells us hook, line and sinker.

Just exactly how is public debate, and therefore the potential outcome of an election manipulated by controlling the flow of information on the crucial policy positions of the people in our government?

[noise]

7. A good example

is the torture policy. The entire thing was made possible by way of secrecy. The secrecy enabled all the fearmongering, propaganda and political advantage.

[Adsos Letter]

10. Information is always power.

Just look at the seminal role the free circulation of pamphlets played in the run-up to the American Revolution.